Mt. Vernon Ohio

Hot and sticky today, felt less than motivated to go far, went 55 miles over 10 hrs. there was a lot of stops, even a nap under a shade tree.  Once I got to town I got a cheap motel, good to have a shower A/C and ice for my drink...doesn't get better....I was so sticky from sweat and suntan lotion I was like a salt lick....tomorrow is a new day, heading towards Berlin Ohio, the home of the largest Amish community. Many don't know, I have a huge attraction to the Amish, I've studied them extensively, and visited them when ever I can, so I'm looking forward to visiting them.  

A place to sleep

The other day after arriving in the unincorporated town (unincorporated, meaning, they act like a town have a name, maybe even a school, but they lack town government therefore are not recognized as a true town, I spoke to the local police they offered me the opportunity to put my tent up behind the volunteer fire dept. very nice of them, it was hard to sleep on the cement even with the sleeping mat, the police came by many times throughout the night, I'm sure to check on me, very nice of them...however someone short black and furry, woke up with K-mart excitement every time he saw the blue lights of the police..

A return home

The bicycle has allowed me to triple and more my daily mileage...today in in Indiana about 800 miles from home, at even a small amount of daily miles, say 50 a day I can be home in 16 days...wow hard to imagine that it could be that soon...and harder still to believe that I will have done it...made it across America on my own....through the good and the bad, there where times I loved every second and times I could hardly go another foot ....I've seen so much met so many people.....it's not over yet...800 miles is still a long way from home...I'm feeling good feeling strong.....

Location

Tonight I've made it to a camp ground, those are getting more and more hard to find as I come east, inLafayette  Indiana.  A hot shower is always welcome, better than getting clean by way of an afternoon rain shower, which is how I washed my clothes this week...a whole new slant on wash and wear.

New time zone

Indiana and eastern time...finally...perfect for all my many geographically challenged friends (love you all) who called me at 3 or 4 am....making great time to be sure...the biking is fairly easy, I lightened my load to the very bones, two shirts two shorts, tent, sleeping mat, rain gear, water...that's it, of course the terrain is so flat, it's really easy riding, once I get to eastern Ohio with all the steep hills I'm expecting a slow down, and PA. too...I'm keeping a pace of about 7-8 mph I travel most the day so I'm easily getting 70 to 80 miles a day in...

Facebook

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Donna's walk across America 2014

Miles Walker stokes

Pictures

Moving along

With the addition of the bike, thanks again Brendan , from Hike Bike and Climb, I'm able to go so much quicker, while I hadn't thought of going by bike, I'm finding I'm not missing anything I still see so much, and still stopping taking picture....and I'll be getting home sooner, I've been on the road for a while now, I'm definitely missing the comforts of my home, my friends, my workout routine, and my own cooking, next to drinking warm water...the food on the road is awful, no real home cooked food, it's fast food, high calorie...I lost weight when I first started the journey, with this crappy food I think I actually put those few pounds back on.  This is something I actually heard from some others who've done this walk, some have actually put weight on...I could totally see it...once I get back it'll be a long time before I go out for fast food and it'll be NEVER that I eat gas station hot dogs.....

At the current travel rate I'll be home in late July !!

Camping...stealth

The past 2 days, and as of today it's looking like it might be three days, there've been no camp grounds so I've been "stealth" camping...aka...hiding at night where ever I can, last night was behind a vacant barn....the only problem...I haven't had a shower in going on three days, and it's really warm, I'm like one big salt lick, between suntan lotion and road dirt I'm gritty...luckily there was a hard sudden rain yesterday afternoon...a win win, shower and clothes washing...

This life on the road.

Also yesterday, I walked past a home a man was cutting his lawn, he waved..about 3 miles later he drove up with a big bottle of cold water....you have no idea what a luxury ice is....one of the things I hate most about this trip is drinking water that's been heated by the sun....so nasty....thank you again Todd !!!

Me Miles

Taking a rest with my mommy